Liquid discharging apparatus and liquid accommodating device

Abstract

A liquid discharging apparatus includes an accommodating container accommodating conductive liquid, a rod-shaped first electrode accommodated in the accommodating container, a rod-shaped second electrode accommodated in the accommodating container, a detection portion that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode and that detects a remaining amount of the liquid accommodated in the accommodating container in response to an electric signal from at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a liquid discharging head discharging the liquid that is supplied from the accommodating container, in which the first electrode includes a first part having an outer periphery with a first length, and a second part having an outer periphery with a second length that is shorter than the first length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid discharging apparatus comprising:
 an accommodating container accommodating conductive liquid;   a rod-shaped first electrode accommodated in the accommodating container;   a rod-shaped second electrode accommodated in the accommodating container;   a detection portion that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode and that detects a remaining amount of the liquid accommodated in the accommodating container in response to an electric signal from at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode; and   a liquid discharging head discharging the liquid that is supplied from the accommodating container, wherein   the first electrode includes
 a first part having an outer periphery with a first length, and 
 a second part having an outer periphery with a second length that is shorter than the first length. 
   
     
     
         2 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first electrode has a conical shape.   
     
     
         3 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first part has a columnar shape, and   the second part has a columnar shape.   
     
     
         4 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second electrode and the first part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second electrode and the second part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is less than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second electrode and the first part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, and is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second electrode and the first part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second electrode and the second part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container.   
     
     
         5 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second electrode includes
 a third part having an outer periphery with a third length, and 
 a fourth part having an outer periphery with a fourth length that is shorter than the third length. 
   
     
     
         6 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the second electrode has a conical shape.   
     
     
         7 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the third part has a columnar shape, and   the fourth part has a columnar shape.   
     
     
         8 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first electrode and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the first electrode and the fourth part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is less than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first electrode and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, and is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first electrode and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the first electrode and the fourth part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container.   
     
     
         9 . The liquid discharging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first part and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container,   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the fourth part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, and   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the fourth part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second part and the fourth part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container.   
     
     
         10 . A liquid accommodating device comprising:
 an accommodating container accommodating conductive liquid;   a rod-shaped first electrode accommodated in the accommodating container;   a rod-shaped second electrode accommodated in the accommodating container; and   a detection portion that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode and that detects a remaining amount of the liquid accommodated in the accommodating container in response to an electric signal from at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein   the first electrode includes
 a first part having an outer periphery with a first length, and 
 a second part having an outer periphery with a second length that is shorter than the first length. 
   
     
     
         11 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first electrode has a conical shape.   
     
     
         12 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first part has a columnar shape, and   the second part has a columnar shape.   
     
     
         13 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second electrode and the first part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second electrode and the second part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is less than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second electrode and the first part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, and is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second electrode and the first part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second electrode and the second part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container.   
     
     
         14 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the second electrode includes
 a third part having an outer periphery with a third length, and 
 a fourth part having an outer periphery with a fourth length that is shorter than the third length. 
   
     
     
         15 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the second electrode has a conical shape.   
     
     
         16 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the third part has a columnar shape, and   the fourth part has a columnar shape.   
     
     
         17 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 14 , wherein
 a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first electrode and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the first electrode and the fourth part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is less than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first electrode and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, and is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first electrode and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the first electrode and the fourth part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container.   
     
     
         18 . The liquid accommodating device according to  claim 14 , wherein
 a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first part and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container,   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the first part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the third part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the fourth part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, and   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second part and the third part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container and the second part and the fourth part are electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container, is greater than   a remaining amount of the liquid, which is detected by the detection portion when the second part and the fourth part are not electrically coupled via the liquid in the accommodating container.